Panic Room
Panic Room
The title of the film, ‘Panic room’, links to the idea of being trapped and suggests claustrophobia.
• The opening of Panic Room begins with a crane shot/establishing shot showing a city, perhaps signifying escapism and freedom.The violin gives a frenzied effect and gives a feeling of imminent terror it also sets an enigma.
• The movement of the camera is slow and looks as if it is filmed using steadicam, which highlights tension, a significant convention for thrillers.
• There are different cuts of buildings with a thin block -like text edited on top.
• The non-diagetic music in the scene is slow and mysterious, which also suggests tension, it gradually builds up a faster pace connoting a form of action.
• One of the first shots of the house is from inside, looking out to the characters, suggesting entrapment.
• The house is lit in low key lighting with a small amount of ambient lighting shining through, also suggesting the same ‘trapped’ idea. Dark settings within thrillers are common.
• Lack of freedom is suggested furthermore when the male character opens the curtains.
• Windows are an important connotation within just the opening of the film as they are portrayed numerously; there is a shot of the girl looking out of the window, later there is a low angle shot looking up to a window, where the weather is thundering and dark, suggesting an oppressive atmosphere, additionally highlighting a thriller movie.
• The non-diagetic music continues as there is a shot of a dark looking room, and a close up of a door, which creaks, this suggests that the room is significant to the film.
• When the characters enter the room we hear vague ambient noise in the background of police cars, suggesting a twist and danger- this also makes the opening have a verisimilitude feel. The voices of the people sound echoed, when in the room, symbolising isolation.
• There is a pan to a close up/reaction shot of the woman, suggesting her anxiety within the room; this signifies the twist as we are unsure of why the atmosphere is tense in the room or why the room is important.
• There is a close up shot of the door slamming shut, again suggesting its impact within the film and the motif of entrapment.
• There is a sound bridge to the outside of the house, which juxtaposes the shots of the inside and the outside of the house, connoting freedom.
• There is a tracking/dolly shot of the house with a slow moving pan.
The title of the film, ‘Panic room’, links to the idea of being trapped and suggests claustrophobia.
• The opening of Panic Room begins with a crane shot/establishing shot showing a city, perhaps signifying escapism and freedom.The violin gives a frenzied effect and gives a feeling of imminent terror it also sets an enigma.
• The movement of the camera is slow and looks as if it is filmed using steadicam, which highlights tension, a significant convention for thrillers.
• There are different cuts of buildings with a thin block -like text edited on top.
• The non-diagetic music in the scene is slow and mysterious, which also suggests tension, it gradually builds up a faster pace connoting a form of action.
• One of the first shots of the house is from inside, looking out to the characters, suggesting entrapment.
• The house is lit in low key lighting with a small amount of ambient lighting shining through, also suggesting the same ‘trapped’ idea. Dark settings within thrillers are common.
• Lack of freedom is suggested furthermore when the male character opens the curtains.
• Windows are an important connotation within just the opening of the film as they are portrayed numerously; there is a shot of the girl looking out of the window, later there is a low angle shot looking up to a window, where the weather is thundering and dark, suggesting an oppressive atmosphere, additionally highlighting a thriller movie.
• The non-diagetic music continues as there is a shot of a dark looking room, and a close up of a door, which creaks, this suggests that the room is significant to the film.
• When the characters enter the room we hear vague ambient noise in the background of police cars, suggesting a twist and danger- this also makes the opening have a verisimilitude feel. The voices of the people sound echoed, when in the room, symbolising isolation.
• There is a pan to a close up/reaction shot of the woman, suggesting her anxiety within the room; this signifies the twist as we are unsure of why the atmosphere is tense in the room or why the room is important.
• There is a close up shot of the door slamming shut, again suggesting its impact within the film and the motif of entrapment.
• There is a sound bridge to the outside of the house, which juxtaposes the shots of the inside and the outside of the house, connoting freedom.
• There is a tracking/dolly shot of the house with a slow moving pan.
The Shining
The Shining
• The extract starts with slow echoing non-diegetic music, at one point the music sounds like a police car and also somebody screaming.
• The opening sequence contains a high angle shot of a car on a mountainous hillside with a tracking shot following it. The mountains connote isolation and also add to the ‘lost’ theme. Furthermore, the car is driving away from the camera signifying escapism.
• The opening credits slide on the foreground in a blue text, followed with the title of the film, ‘The Shining.’ This title is suggested from the boy’s ‘gift’ of being able to see ghosts (this is suggested from the novel) and it could also represent his and his mother’s chance of escaping.
• There is a shot of the camera zooming into a forest. Forests are often portrayed in thrillers and are also suggested as a lonely, dark place. The forests can also cross-reference to the maze later on in the film and again links to the ‘lost’ theme.
• There is then a high angle shot of the car entering a dark tunnel connoting confinement.
• As the car moves on there are repetitive dissolve shots/ellipsis through time, as we realise the car is in different places. The dissolve shots can connote decomposition, perhaps of the family. The elipsis shots can suggest that the place is far away, linking to the house being deserted and lonely.
• The scene moves to the man at an interview, where the interviewer talks about the house being ‘isolated’ fitting with all the connotations in the opening.
• The interview room contains a window with bars on the top suggesting entrapment; this is contrasted with the tree and sky outside signifying freedom.
• There is parallel editing to the son and mother at home, the music changes to a slow and tense tempo. There is a close up of the boy looking in the mirror which is a reaction shot, where he looks shocked. (Mirrors are often portrayed in thrillers as they can highlight confusion of which is the real image) The shot changes to the new house, where it is filling up with blood; we realise that this could be what the boy is seeing, but referencing to the previous history of murder in the house. The blood covers the screen, making the frame black; the black and red are iconographic colours of death and give a foreboding feel. If this is what the boy is seeing, it can link to the 'gift' he has, mentioned earlier, linking to the title.
• There is then a crane shot over the forest again with a dolly shot following the car,this can link well with thrillers as there is often a sense of being followed, such as by detectives, police or following someone to murder them. The window in the car is open suggesting freedom, also signified with the countryside in the background, which is an ironic indication, but it could also be questioning the lack of it.
• To create an eerie effect, there is smoke in the foreground, which is often portrayed in thrillers.
• When the characters are walking around the house, there is a lot of artificial lighting and no ambient, this suggests lack of freedom.
• Furthermore there is an instant high pitched noise, suggesting fear, and a sudden zoom into the boy’s face, there is a cut away shot when we realise that he sees two girls who are blocking the doorway. The doorway is blocked so it can highlight the boys entrapment inside the house.
• The extract starts with slow echoing non-diegetic music, at one point the music sounds like a police car and also somebody screaming.
• The opening sequence contains a high angle shot of a car on a mountainous hillside with a tracking shot following it. The mountains connote isolation and also add to the ‘lost’ theme. Furthermore, the car is driving away from the camera signifying escapism.
• The opening credits slide on the foreground in a blue text, followed with the title of the film, ‘The Shining.’ This title is suggested from the boy’s ‘gift’ of being able to see ghosts (this is suggested from the novel) and it could also represent his and his mother’s chance of escaping.
• There is a shot of the camera zooming into a forest. Forests are often portrayed in thrillers and are also suggested as a lonely, dark place. The forests can also cross-reference to the maze later on in the film and again links to the ‘lost’ theme.
• There is then a high angle shot of the car entering a dark tunnel connoting confinement.
• As the car moves on there are repetitive dissolve shots/ellipsis through time, as we realise the car is in different places. The dissolve shots can connote decomposition, perhaps of the family. The elipsis shots can suggest that the place is far away, linking to the house being deserted and lonely.
• The scene moves to the man at an interview, where the interviewer talks about the house being ‘isolated’ fitting with all the connotations in the opening.
• The interview room contains a window with bars on the top suggesting entrapment; this is contrasted with the tree and sky outside signifying freedom.
• There is parallel editing to the son and mother at home, the music changes to a slow and tense tempo. There is a close up of the boy looking in the mirror which is a reaction shot, where he looks shocked. (Mirrors are often portrayed in thrillers as they can highlight confusion of which is the real image) The shot changes to the new house, where it is filling up with blood; we realise that this could be what the boy is seeing, but referencing to the previous history of murder in the house. The blood covers the screen, making the frame black; the black and red are iconographic colours of death and give a foreboding feel. If this is what the boy is seeing, it can link to the 'gift' he has, mentioned earlier, linking to the title.
• There is then a crane shot over the forest again with a dolly shot following the car,this can link well with thrillers as there is often a sense of being followed, such as by detectives, police or following someone to murder them. The window in the car is open suggesting freedom, also signified with the countryside in the background, which is an ironic indication, but it could also be questioning the lack of it.
• To create an eerie effect, there is smoke in the foreground, which is often portrayed in thrillers.
• When the characters are walking around the house, there is a lot of artificial lighting and no ambient, this suggests lack of freedom.
• Furthermore there is an instant high pitched noise, suggesting fear, and a sudden zoom into the boy’s face, there is a cut away shot when we realise that he sees two girls who are blocking the doorway. The doorway is blocked so it can highlight the boys entrapment inside the house.
Sin City
Sin City
• The opening starts with the ambient sound of police cars connoting a sense of crime. There is a voice over of a man talking about a woman, again signifying ‘femme fatale’ as she is represented significant to his story. There is non diegetic, romantic sounding, music in the background.
• The woman appears in the centre of the screen highlighting her importance; furthermore, there is a long shot of her in a bright red dress, which contrasts with the black background making her stand out. The red and black are iconic colours of death and give a portentous feel.
• Additionally, this ‘foreboding’ feel is portrayed further when the weather changes and it begins to rain.
• The depth of field contains a shallow focus, as it looks blurred; the camera is mainly focusing on the woman’s face, again suggesting her significance.
• There is low-key lighting, shadows and reflections (from the rain) created, adding to the iconic thriller conventions and also creating mystery. Ambiguity is connoted further as the characters faces are half lit up yet half dark.
• The dialogue between the characters does not contain both of them, there is shot reverse shot and over the shoulder shots, suggesting inequality, perhaps stereotyping the female to be vulnerable, symbolised again once she is shot.
• The bars that the woman is standing against can highlight prisons or a ‘barrier’ that the woman has created, perhaps in the man’s life as he kills her, therefore this may result badly.
• The man speaking is telling us in retrospect so we know that the opening is significant highlighting twists; furthermore, the opening suggests the involvement of crime and raises questions, drawing the audience’s attention before the credits begin.
• Once the male character shoots the woman, the music becomes a faster tempo and turns into a more detective style.
• There is a fast zoom and pan around the city suggesting action, which is when ‘Sin City’ appears in the frame.
• The shot of the city fades to the outlines of the title. Sin City appears in a white font which looks like a light, this can connote death/heaven. A red colour then emerges highlighting blood, which becomes more apparent when it looks poured on. The title of 'Sin City' makes it apparent that there is going to be some involvement of crime.
• The opening credits are bold and outlined which fade away, these are on top of images which show iconic thriller based props, such as knives and guns.
• There are a second lot of different opening credits which are based on a black background. They are zoomed into and look fragmented with effects of different colours based within the font, this can suggest violence, action and knives, as they look slashed.
• The opening starts with the ambient sound of police cars connoting a sense of crime. There is a voice over of a man talking about a woman, again signifying ‘femme fatale’ as she is represented significant to his story. There is non diegetic, romantic sounding, music in the background.
• The woman appears in the centre of the screen highlighting her importance; furthermore, there is a long shot of her in a bright red dress, which contrasts with the black background making her stand out. The red and black are iconic colours of death and give a portentous feel.
• Additionally, this ‘foreboding’ feel is portrayed further when the weather changes and it begins to rain.
• The depth of field contains a shallow focus, as it looks blurred; the camera is mainly focusing on the woman’s face, again suggesting her significance.
• There is low-key lighting, shadows and reflections (from the rain) created, adding to the iconic thriller conventions and also creating mystery. Ambiguity is connoted further as the characters faces are half lit up yet half dark.
• The dialogue between the characters does not contain both of them, there is shot reverse shot and over the shoulder shots, suggesting inequality, perhaps stereotyping the female to be vulnerable, symbolised again once she is shot.
• The bars that the woman is standing against can highlight prisons or a ‘barrier’ that the woman has created, perhaps in the man’s life as he kills her, therefore this may result badly.
• The man speaking is telling us in retrospect so we know that the opening is significant highlighting twists; furthermore, the opening suggests the involvement of crime and raises questions, drawing the audience’s attention before the credits begin.
• Once the male character shoots the woman, the music becomes a faster tempo and turns into a more detective style.
• There is a fast zoom and pan around the city suggesting action, which is when ‘Sin City’ appears in the frame.
• The shot of the city fades to the outlines of the title. Sin City appears in a white font which looks like a light, this can connote death/heaven. A red colour then emerges highlighting blood, which becomes more apparent when it looks poured on. The title of 'Sin City' makes it apparent that there is going to be some involvement of crime.
• The opening credits are bold and outlined which fade away, these are on top of images which show iconic thriller based props, such as knives and guns.
• There are a second lot of different opening credits which are based on a black background. They are zoomed into and look fragmented with effects of different colours based within the font, this can suggest violence, action and knives, as they look slashed.
Psycho
Psycho
I looked at Psycho, mainly as an example of the opening credits, as they are very effective with linking to the conventions of thrillers, with the symbolism of knives and violence.
• The credits slide in with lines across, connoting knives/barriers.
• The credits are malformed and only half of the word appears at a time, this suggests a form of delinquency, again signifying the knives. Furthermore the credits begin to split on sides so that the names are separate with a bar between them, which suggests the cut from a knife.
• The music and the opening titles are erratic suggesting a sense of panic.
• The soundtrack is sharp and aggravating, connoting violence.
• There is a black background which is iconic to death.
• The opening titles fade to an establishing shot of the city, where there is a slow pan; the slow camera work, and sudden change to slow music, connotes an intriguing feel.
• There is a dissolve of shots and a zoom to an open window where the blinds are shut signifying confinement.
• The opening sequence is in low key lighting, with little ambient light, creating shadows.
I looked at Psycho, mainly as an example of the opening credits, as they are very effective with linking to the conventions of thrillers, with the symbolism of knives and violence.
• The credits slide in with lines across, connoting knives/barriers.
• The credits are malformed and only half of the word appears at a time, this suggests a form of delinquency, again signifying the knives. Furthermore the credits begin to split on sides so that the names are separate with a bar between them, which suggests the cut from a knife.
• The music and the opening titles are erratic suggesting a sense of panic.
• The soundtrack is sharp and aggravating, connoting violence.
• There is a black background which is iconic to death.
• The opening titles fade to an establishing shot of the city, where there is a slow pan; the slow camera work, and sudden change to slow music, connotes an intriguing feel.
• There is a dissolve of shots and a zoom to an open window where the blinds are shut signifying confinement.
• The opening sequence is in low key lighting, with little ambient light, creating shadows.
Falling Down
Falling Down
• The opening credits of Falling Down begin on a black background where there is no sound except for deep breathing; the silence may suggest that the character feels isolated and also that he is nervous about something highlighted by his heavy breathing.
• The opening credits appear to be shaking, adding to the imagery of his anxious feelings.
• Additionally, there is an extreme close up of a man’s mouth, slowly zooming out, forcing us to look at his face, he is sweating, signifying anxiety or that he is hot which suggests that he may be short tempered.
• The camera zooms out and down, linking to the title of the film ‘Falling Down.’
• The camera slowly pans around a variety of people who all seem to be accompanied contrasting the idea of the man being alone.
• The loud ambient sound of other people highlights the fact that the man is un-accompanied.
• The non-diegetic sound playing is slow and emphasises the long traffic jam and apprehensive emotions.
• There are cut away shots of the man trying to turn something on in his car and trying to open a window, which do not work, suggesting that there is an annoyance, furthermore symbolised with the fly in his car which he aggressively hits.
• There is a smoke and a light that emerges in front of his window screen highlighting that something is unclear. Annoyance is portrayed further due to the cut away shots and zooms to images, such as ‘financial freedom’ suggesting his worry and also links to his lack of freedom.
• The opening credits of Falling Down begin on a black background where there is no sound except for deep breathing; the silence may suggest that the character feels isolated and also that he is nervous about something highlighted by his heavy breathing.
• The opening credits appear to be shaking, adding to the imagery of his anxious feelings.
• Additionally, there is an extreme close up of a man’s mouth, slowly zooming out, forcing us to look at his face, he is sweating, signifying anxiety or that he is hot which suggests that he may be short tempered.
• The camera zooms out and down, linking to the title of the film ‘Falling Down.’
• The camera slowly pans around a variety of people who all seem to be accompanied contrasting the idea of the man being alone.
• The loud ambient sound of other people highlights the fact that the man is un-accompanied.
• The non-diegetic sound playing is slow and emphasises the long traffic jam and apprehensive emotions.
• There are cut away shots of the man trying to turn something on in his car and trying to open a window, which do not work, suggesting that there is an annoyance, furthermore symbolised with the fly in his car which he aggressively hits.
• There is a smoke and a light that emerges in front of his window screen highlighting that something is unclear. Annoyance is portrayed further due to the cut away shots and zooms to images, such as ‘financial freedom’ suggesting his worry and also links to his lack of freedom.
Film Noir
Film Noir
Film noir is a type of thriller or a ‘Hollywood crime drama’ that are based around detectives and crime.
I have found that thrillers use low key lighting, which helps to build suspense and mystery, film noir has a propensity to have the same effect as they are in black and white.
Conventions/plots that film noir usually follow:
• Femme fatales often occur in film noir, this is French for ‘fatal woman’ who is usually seductive to the man, and controls his actions, in comparison to other films where the man tends to have a patriarchal role. Femme fatales also highlight 'male gaze' which is frequently signified within the media industry.
• They are often narrated through the criminal’s point of view and regularly have a voice over. A Voice over suggests that the film is going to be told with a non-linear perspective.
• Film noir often includes something that has turned an innocent man to crime, such as thriller ‘Falling Down’.
A film that I have watched is ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice.’ This film includes:
• A woman that controls both men, which we realise they both like- there are connotations from the opening music of romance and our first meeting of the female character, where the slow music suggests a chemistry with the two characters.
• Indications of crime such as in the opening when a man gets stopped by a police man. Additionally a sign that says ‘Man Wanted’ ambiguously connoting a wanted workman or a wanted criminal.
• The slow demolishment of the ‘Man Wanted’ sign with fire and the dissolve shot following highlights a break-down.
Film noir is a type of thriller or a ‘Hollywood crime drama’ that are based around detectives and crime.
I have found that thrillers use low key lighting, which helps to build suspense and mystery, film noir has a propensity to have the same effect as they are in black and white.
Conventions/plots that film noir usually follow:
• Femme fatales often occur in film noir, this is French for ‘fatal woman’ who is usually seductive to the man, and controls his actions, in comparison to other films where the man tends to have a patriarchal role. Femme fatales also highlight 'male gaze' which is frequently signified within the media industry.
• They are often narrated through the criminal’s point of view and regularly have a voice over. A Voice over suggests that the film is going to be told with a non-linear perspective.
• Film noir often includes something that has turned an innocent man to crime, such as thriller ‘Falling Down’.
A film that I have watched is ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice.’ This film includes:
• A woman that controls both men, which we realise they both like- there are connotations from the opening music of romance and our first meeting of the female character, where the slow music suggests a chemistry with the two characters.
• Indications of crime such as in the opening when a man gets stopped by a police man. Additionally a sign that says ‘Man Wanted’ ambiguously connoting a wanted workman or a wanted criminal.
• The slow demolishment of the ‘Man Wanted’ sign with fire and the dissolve shot following highlights a break-down.
Another film noir that I have watched is Double Indemnity, this includes:
• Smoke, unclear background- dissolve shots of opening credits, adding to the ‘blurred’ effect.
• Dark, anonymous figure, adds to the inquisitiveness that thrillers usually hold.
• Fast car going through stop sign suggesting the character is escaping from somewhere or someone.
• There is a lot of use of shadows, accumulating to the low-key lighting and mysterious character.
• The music is fast paced signifying action.
• The character is sweating, highlighting anxiety.
• There is an automatic curiosity to the audience as we are unsure what the man is ‘confessing’ to; this highlights that there is going to be a twist, which is typical to a thriller.
• There is a voice over which is narrating in retrospect- this makes it a non-linear account, typical of the thriller genre.
Thriller Conventions
Analysing the thriller/horror genre will be efficient in the production stage of my thriller as the codes and conventions are now more apparent.
Conventions of a thriller:
• I have noticed that within every thriller that I have looked at, the lighting is significant. Thrillers portray low-key lighting which builds tension and adds mystery; There is quite often a juxtaposition of ambient light, like a window in the frame, where the blinds are often closed (such as in Psycho), which suggests a form of confinement. The dark lighting often creates a shadow, which again is used to build mystery, such as in Sin City, where the characters faces are light on one side and shaded on the other, this can connote a facade in personality. In my thriller, I will ensure that the lighting will fit these conventions and, as suggested on my plan, perhaps use candles so there is little lighting and shadows created to give a similar effect.
• The soundtrack in thrillers is much defined and probably wouldn’t be heard within a different genre. The music tends to be mysterious and detective style; it changes pace when there is action, but is generally quite slow, this accumulates to the tense feel. When ambient sound is represented, it often includes police cars adding to the suspense of the storyline, and twist.
• Thrillers consist of twists, which entices the audience into working out the plot. A voiceover is often included where a character is speaking in retrospect, telling the story in a non linear scale, where the main event happens first, such as in Sin City, where the man shoots the woman, which makes the audience question the story from the beginning.
• A thriller should remain a fast pace throughout, building suspense; this is usually achieved with the problem occurring at the start. Thrillers also include quick cuts, such as in the shining, when the camera suddenly zooms into the boys face acting as a reaction shot. The music also suggests this, as the tempo of the music gets faster where there is action.
• The main character within thrillers is usually a man. This is probably because of the stereotypical view that men are more dominant and overpowering than women, whereas women are appointed to be the more vulnerable character.
Conventions of a thriller:
• I have noticed that within every thriller that I have looked at, the lighting is significant. Thrillers portray low-key lighting which builds tension and adds mystery; There is quite often a juxtaposition of ambient light, like a window in the frame, where the blinds are often closed (such as in Psycho), which suggests a form of confinement. The dark lighting often creates a shadow, which again is used to build mystery, such as in Sin City, where the characters faces are light on one side and shaded on the other, this can connote a facade in personality. In my thriller, I will ensure that the lighting will fit these conventions and, as suggested on my plan, perhaps use candles so there is little lighting and shadows created to give a similar effect.
• The soundtrack in thrillers is much defined and probably wouldn’t be heard within a different genre. The music tends to be mysterious and detective style; it changes pace when there is action, but is generally quite slow, this accumulates to the tense feel. When ambient sound is represented, it often includes police cars adding to the suspense of the storyline, and twist.
• Thrillers consist of twists, which entices the audience into working out the plot. A voiceover is often included where a character is speaking in retrospect, telling the story in a non linear scale, where the main event happens first, such as in Sin City, where the man shoots the woman, which makes the audience question the story from the beginning.
• A thriller should remain a fast pace throughout, building suspense; this is usually achieved with the problem occurring at the start. Thrillers also include quick cuts, such as in the shining, when the camera suddenly zooms into the boys face acting as a reaction shot. The music also suggests this, as the tempo of the music gets faster where there is action.
• The main character within thrillers is usually a man. This is probably because of the stereotypical view that men are more dominant and overpowering than women, whereas women are appointed to be the more vulnerable character.
Planning
Ideas for the opening of our thriller.
This is the planning we have proceeded as a basic for our production stage of developing our thriller.
Music/Sound
• Slow /mysterious non diegetic
• Voice over
• High pitched sounds- sounds although a person is screaming,such as in The Shining.
Light
• Low key lighting
• Little ambient light- however moon light can be iconographic of the horror genre.
• Night time
• Candle light
Title/Font
• Red and black are connotations of death
• Fading- can link to eerie/foggy theme highlighted in thrillers
• One of our ideas contains a diary, which a handwriting font would link well
Location
• Thrillers are quite often based in forests
• Churches/graveyards
• Isolated looking rooms
• Basements
• Props
• Knives
• Candles
• Diary
Editing
• Depth of field – focus pull, shallow focus, deep focus – gives ‘blurred’ effect
• Fading
• Dissolves – quite often portrayed in thrillers, such as The Shining, can link to an un-clear decomposed effect.
Characters
• Horrors often present the ‘final girl’- which thrillers begin on a non-linear point of view, so to create a horror/thriller we could begin with a girl using a voice over reminiscing the plot. Girls also stereotyped to be more vulnerable.
• Thrillers usually present a male role character that has turned to crime.
Weather/time
• Raining presents an oppressed or tense feeling.
• Night time/ dark lighting
This is the planning we have proceeded as a basic for our production stage of developing our thriller.
Music/Sound
• Slow /mysterious non diegetic
• Voice over
• High pitched sounds- sounds although a person is screaming,such as in The Shining.
Light
• Low key lighting
• Little ambient light- however moon light can be iconographic of the horror genre.
• Night time
• Candle light
Title/Font
• Red and black are connotations of death
• Fading- can link to eerie/foggy theme highlighted in thrillers
• One of our ideas contains a diary, which a handwriting font would link well
Location
• Thrillers are quite often based in forests
• Churches/graveyards
• Isolated looking rooms
• Basements
• Props
• Knives
• Candles
• Diary
Editing
• Depth of field – focus pull, shallow focus, deep focus – gives ‘blurred’ effect
• Fading
• Dissolves – quite often portrayed in thrillers, such as The Shining, can link to an un-clear decomposed effect.
Characters
• Horrors often present the ‘final girl’- which thrillers begin on a non-linear point of view, so to create a horror/thriller we could begin with a girl using a voice over reminiscing the plot. Girls also stereotyped to be more vulnerable.
• Thrillers usually present a male role character that has turned to crime.
Weather/time
• Raining presents an oppressed or tense feeling.
• Night time/ dark lighting
Target Audience Research
Target Audience
We are pitching our thriller/horror at 15-17 year olds as they are the most loyal cinema goers; furthermore a horror probably would not appeal to a younger audience. As a way of finding out what our target audience would prefer in a thriller based film, I have conducted a questionnaire to give to ten people of my target audience so that we get an idea what our target audience would prefer as a successful thriller.
Questionnaire
1/What do you like about the thriller genre?
Suspense (5)
Twists (2)
Violence (1)
Ambiguity (2)
2/ What should our opening include to attract you?
Flashbacks (6)
Voiceovers (2)
Action (1)
Death (1)
3/ What music do you think is effective and typical of a thriller?
Fast paced (5)
Mysterious (3)
Ambient sounding such as police cars (1)
Slow and high/pitched (1)
4/ Do you think that the opening credits should be a) before the opening, giving connotations of what the thriller may be about, or b) after the dilemma, engaging the audience to the plot automatically and maybe suggesting future events, motifs and themes that will gradually occur?
a) (4)
b) (6)
5/ As a group, we have considered a range of different plots for our thriller, which plot would you prefer to see?
1. There is a female voice over of a teenage girl recalling events that have happened, which she has written in her diary. The diary will be a significant prop within the thriller/horror. This opening will include flashbacks and ‘shock tactics’ that will disturb the audience, this is what is incorporated in ‘The Ring’ as a way to scare the audience. The shocking images should be quick as it adds mystery. I like how the subtitles appeared after the dilemma portrayed in Sin City as it engaged the audience from the beginning, therefore I will probably do mine within a similar structure. The music occurs in the flashbacks as a way to connote action and mystery, but otherwise when there is a voice over, it is silent suggesting isolation.
2. Another opening that we have considered is a tracking shot of a girl, there is heavy breathing in the background, to signify that she is being stalked. There is a pan round to a long shot of a graveyard which moves to where she should have been standing, she is not there; the music builds tempo and we hear a faint scream in the background, the shot fades to black. There is then a voiceover of a man telling us how ‘something’ has changed his life, leaving the audience wondering. The subtitles come up at the end in a red, bloody looking, font.
3. There is a shot of a boy holding a photo of his girlfriend, talking about her death and tracking down the murderer, there is then a few flashing shots of him killing/hitting somebody, which are very quick, the shots are ambiguous as the audience does not know whether they are real, this can build tension. The music is fast paced throughout.
Plot one got seven votes out of the ten, therefore we will try to base our thriller opening around this idea as it was the most popular within the target age group chosen.
We are pitching our thriller/horror at 15-17 year olds as they are the most loyal cinema goers; furthermore a horror probably would not appeal to a younger audience. As a way of finding out what our target audience would prefer in a thriller based film, I have conducted a questionnaire to give to ten people of my target audience so that we get an idea what our target audience would prefer as a successful thriller.
Questionnaire
1/What do you like about the thriller genre?
Suspense (5)
Twists (2)
Violence (1)
Ambiguity (2)
2/ What should our opening include to attract you?
Flashbacks (6)
Voiceovers (2)
Action (1)
Death (1)
3/ What music do you think is effective and typical of a thriller?
Fast paced (5)
Mysterious (3)
Ambient sounding such as police cars (1)
Slow and high/pitched (1)
4/ Do you think that the opening credits should be a) before the opening, giving connotations of what the thriller may be about, or b) after the dilemma, engaging the audience to the plot automatically and maybe suggesting future events, motifs and themes that will gradually occur?
a) (4)
b) (6)
5/ As a group, we have considered a range of different plots for our thriller, which plot would you prefer to see?
1. There is a female voice over of a teenage girl recalling events that have happened, which she has written in her diary. The diary will be a significant prop within the thriller/horror. This opening will include flashbacks and ‘shock tactics’ that will disturb the audience, this is what is incorporated in ‘The Ring’ as a way to scare the audience. The shocking images should be quick as it adds mystery. I like how the subtitles appeared after the dilemma portrayed in Sin City as it engaged the audience from the beginning, therefore I will probably do mine within a similar structure. The music occurs in the flashbacks as a way to connote action and mystery, but otherwise when there is a voice over, it is silent suggesting isolation.
2. Another opening that we have considered is a tracking shot of a girl, there is heavy breathing in the background, to signify that she is being stalked. There is a pan round to a long shot of a graveyard which moves to where she should have been standing, she is not there; the music builds tempo and we hear a faint scream in the background, the shot fades to black. There is then a voiceover of a man telling us how ‘something’ has changed his life, leaving the audience wondering. The subtitles come up at the end in a red, bloody looking, font.
3. There is a shot of a boy holding a photo of his girlfriend, talking about her death and tracking down the murderer, there is then a few flashing shots of him killing/hitting somebody, which are very quick, the shots are ambiguous as the audience does not know whether they are real, this can build tension. The music is fast paced throughout.
Plot one got seven votes out of the ten, therefore we will try to base our thriller opening around this idea as it was the most popular within the target age group chosen.
Planning
Looking at the different openings, they have given me an insight into the thriller conventions and will therefore help me producing my own.
• Sin City and Psycho have given me ideas on the opening credits of my thriller; also backed up with the results of my questionnaire. I am going to base my credits after the opening to keep the audience engaged. The credits should signify the themes being portrayed.
• In analysing the thriller/horrors, the themes mainly seem to be based around escapism- juxtaposed with freedom, entrapment, crime, mystery, murders, seclusion, and love triangles - leading to crime. I particularly think that the use of bars was effective in Sin City, connoting a barrier/entrapment and also the use of windows signified in Panic Room. I will try and use imagery in the opening of my thriller, such as the darkness of the room symbolising isolation.
• The most popular style of music chosen in my questionnaire was fast paced and mysterious, however I have found that the more inquisitive music is slow, building suspense, for example in The Shining, the non-diegetic music adds ambiguity and is reverberating, connoting that the characters are not alone. I think that using music in a similar way to the opening of psycho would be the most effective as it has a fast tempo and also sounds iconic to the themes presented.
• The light within thrillers is usually low key-lighting or is in black and white, giving an apprehensive feel, such as in Psycho, where it was chosen to have a negative colouring. Horrors are also in a low contrast, giving it a portentous feel; therefore my thriller/horror will have low key lighting and as already suggested to use little light, such as candles or moonlight.
Looking at the different openings, they have given me an insight into the thriller conventions and will therefore help me producing my own.
• Sin City and Psycho have given me ideas on the opening credits of my thriller; also backed up with the results of my questionnaire. I am going to base my credits after the opening to keep the audience engaged. The credits should signify the themes being portrayed.
• In analysing the thriller/horrors, the themes mainly seem to be based around escapism- juxtaposed with freedom, entrapment, crime, mystery, murders, seclusion, and love triangles - leading to crime. I particularly think that the use of bars was effective in Sin City, connoting a barrier/entrapment and also the use of windows signified in Panic Room. I will try and use imagery in the opening of my thriller, such as the darkness of the room symbolising isolation.
• The most popular style of music chosen in my questionnaire was fast paced and mysterious, however I have found that the more inquisitive music is slow, building suspense, for example in The Shining, the non-diegetic music adds ambiguity and is reverberating, connoting that the characters are not alone. I think that using music in a similar way to the opening of psycho would be the most effective as it has a fast tempo and also sounds iconic to the themes presented.
• The light within thrillers is usually low key-lighting or is in black and white, giving an apprehensive feel, such as in Psycho, where it was chosen to have a negative colouring. Horrors are also in a low contrast, giving it a portentous feel; therefore my thriller/horror will have low key lighting and as already suggested to use little light, such as candles or moonlight.
Basic Outline of our Thriller/Horror
Basic Outline Idea of our Thriller/Horror.
• The opening sequence will start at night time, we will aim to get a shot of the moon, which is typically iconographic in a horror film, signifying a foreboding and eerie effect. As the camera pans toward the window, we will aim to include scenery such as trees linking to an entangled motif and also forests are commonly portrayed in thrillers as they are dark and deep which may suggest mystery.
• There will be a slow pan to an establishing shot of a house, which will cut to a zoom of some windows connoting entrapment, juxtaposed with the view from outside suggesting freedom.
• The opening sequence will start at night time, we will aim to get a shot of the moon, which is typically iconographic in a horror film, signifying a foreboding and eerie effect. As the camera pans toward the window, we will aim to include scenery such as trees linking to an entangled motif and also forests are commonly portrayed in thrillers as they are dark and deep which may suggest mystery.
• There will be a slow pan to an establishing shot of a house, which will cut to a zoom of some windows connoting entrapment, juxtaposed with the view from outside suggesting freedom.
The camera moves to a close up of the window
this is an establishing shot of the house.
• There will then be a dissolve shot from the outside of the window to the inside of the room showing some stairs where the camera will follow them down; the dissolve effect will suggest a decomposed emotion within the character/s. The stairs, as suggested in Panic Room, are highlighted a lot, which again links to entrapment or a ‘lost’ idea. Additionally, as going down the stairs, there will be a shot of a small window highlighting entrapment; the window will be slightly blurred, suggesting that things are ‘unclear’.
The camera will follow the stairs down where we get a glimpse of the window
• The camera will lead to a closed door, signifying that the character may be hiding and adds mystery as we do not know why.
The shot has led from the stairs to a closed door.
• All this time, there will be a slow paced and mysterious styled music will feature in the background. On our questionnaire the ‘mysterious’ themed music came second, therefore it is clear that our audience will like it and that it will create tension.
• The door opens when we hear an immediate echoed, whispering of a ‘disturbing’ voice.
• The camera is focusing as an overhead shot of a girl sitting within a low-key lighting room. This is in contrast to the lighting outside the room, which furthermore builds tension as the audience are unclear of why the girl’s room is so dark as it builds inquisitiveness of the character, the darkness is adding to the portentous feeling. The overhead shot is looking down on the girl, where the girl is slightly blurred, suggesting that the character has unsure/unclear feelings, but also enforces the audience to focus on the diary.
• The diary is black, building on the darkness of the character, and once opened there are disturbing images inside and the girls hand writing. Although at this point we cannot see what the writing says. The images are photos, which links to the girl looking and recalling events in retrospect, this connects to the conventions of thrillers, as they are usually told with a voice over and looking back on past events, which had caused a difference.
• The girl begins to write, where we hear the disturbing voice, the voice only says words, which the audience may not understand how they are relevant, but they are clearly affecting the girl writing.
• Throughout this sequence there will be flashbacks of a character dying, which the audience will now assume that the voice is of the girl’s last moments, however we do not understand why the girl writing the diary is hearing these voices, but assumed that she was there at the death of the girl. The flashbacks will be shot in the day time so that it is clear to the audience that they are flashbacks. We looked at many different locations, including garages, alleys, fields and forests. We agreed that the best location was this pathway as it is closed off suggesting difficulty in escaping and is in a large open space, juxtaposing to where the girl is writing, which will be in a confined space.
• The door opens when we hear an immediate echoed, whispering of a ‘disturbing’ voice.
• The camera is focusing as an overhead shot of a girl sitting within a low-key lighting room. This is in contrast to the lighting outside the room, which furthermore builds tension as the audience are unclear of why the girl’s room is so dark as it builds inquisitiveness of the character, the darkness is adding to the portentous feeling. The overhead shot is looking down on the girl, where the girl is slightly blurred, suggesting that the character has unsure/unclear feelings, but also enforces the audience to focus on the diary.
• The diary is black, building on the darkness of the character, and once opened there are disturbing images inside and the girls hand writing. Although at this point we cannot see what the writing says. The images are photos, which links to the girl looking and recalling events in retrospect, this connects to the conventions of thrillers, as they are usually told with a voice over and looking back on past events, which had caused a difference.
• The girl begins to write, where we hear the disturbing voice, the voice only says words, which the audience may not understand how they are relevant, but they are clearly affecting the girl writing.
• Throughout this sequence there will be flashbacks of a character dying, which the audience will now assume that the voice is of the girl’s last moments, however we do not understand why the girl writing the diary is hearing these voices, but assumed that she was there at the death of the girl. The flashbacks will be shot in the day time so that it is clear to the audience that they are flashbacks. We looked at many different locations, including garages, alleys, fields and forests. We agreed that the best location was this pathway as it is closed off suggesting difficulty in escaping and is in a large open space, juxtaposing to where the girl is writing, which will be in a confined space.
Target Research
Target Research Continued
We decided that our target audience will be for the most loyal cinema goers as it will appeal to a large range of people; We must ensure that we approach the appropriate procedures in order for our film opening to be appealing and suitable: The most relevant point that should be looked upon, due to our opening including a death, is that thrillers for the certificate of 15 may include ‘strong violence but not dwell on the infliction of pain;’ however in our thriller/horror we will try to avoid any violence so that it can appeal to a younger range as well. Further Target Audience research that we conducted was another questionnaire, which we also interviewed and filmed people(below): Our questions included
1. Do you enjoy watching thrillers/horrors? Give a reason for your answer.
2. What do you think makes a good thriller?
3. Can you think of any good thrillers that you have seen? Why did you enjoy them?
4. What do you expect to be typical thriller/horror conventions?
5. How important do you think the opening title is to a film?
6. Our opening sequence includes images of photos, flashes and flashbacks of disturbing things happening to a young girl, using this information can you tick next to the title you think best suits our thriller/horror.
• Snapshot
• The Blinding Light
• Disturbia
• Hallucination
We decided that our questionnaire should include open questions so that we get a range of true opinions, therefore our outcome will be valid, making our opening fit to our target audience’s opinions. The main outcome helped us develop our ideas toward the planning. The main answer to question one was ‘yes as they build suspense and are often confusing’. The most common answer to question two was similar as the participants of the questionnaire suggested that suspense makes a good thriller, other common responses was that the mystery within a thriller made the film more ‘enjoyable’ as it keeps you on edge due to inquisitiveness. People generally thought that the opening sequence to a film is ‘very important’ as it is the main part of the film that draws you in. The most popular name for our thriller/horror was snapshot. We thought that this title was appropriate as the word ‘snapshot’ links to a common motif portrayed in our opening. The title links to photos which are shown within the diary, it also refers to the flashbacks as they are looking back to the past as well as photos do.
We decided that our target audience will be for the most loyal cinema goers as it will appeal to a large range of people; We must ensure that we approach the appropriate procedures in order for our film opening to be appealing and suitable: The most relevant point that should be looked upon, due to our opening including a death, is that thrillers for the certificate of 15 may include ‘strong violence but not dwell on the infliction of pain;’ however in our thriller/horror we will try to avoid any violence so that it can appeal to a younger range as well. Further Target Audience research that we conducted was another questionnaire, which we also interviewed and filmed people(below): Our questions included
1. Do you enjoy watching thrillers/horrors? Give a reason for your answer.
2. What do you think makes a good thriller?
3. Can you think of any good thrillers that you have seen? Why did you enjoy them?
4. What do you expect to be typical thriller/horror conventions?
5. How important do you think the opening title is to a film?
6. Our opening sequence includes images of photos, flashes and flashbacks of disturbing things happening to a young girl, using this information can you tick next to the title you think best suits our thriller/horror.
• Snapshot
• The Blinding Light
• Disturbia
• Hallucination
We decided that our questionnaire should include open questions so that we get a range of true opinions, therefore our outcome will be valid, making our opening fit to our target audience’s opinions. The main outcome helped us develop our ideas toward the planning. The main answer to question one was ‘yes as they build suspense and are often confusing’. The most common answer to question two was similar as the participants of the questionnaire suggested that suspense makes a good thriller, other common responses was that the mystery within a thriller made the film more ‘enjoyable’ as it keeps you on edge due to inquisitiveness. People generally thought that the opening sequence to a film is ‘very important’ as it is the main part of the film that draws you in. The most popular name for our thriller/horror was snapshot. We thought that this title was appropriate as the word ‘snapshot’ links to a common motif portrayed in our opening. The title links to photos which are shown within the diary, it also refers to the flashbacks as they are looking back to the past as well as photos do.
• The shots will mainly focus on the girl writing the diary as the flashbacks are quick, to build tension and also to make them seem more effective, as they are used to build mystery into why the character is dead and to also disturb as they are fast which seems like mind playing.
• The girl begins to write faster, which as she does the whispering/ echoed voice over is faster. There are close ups and extreme close ups of the girl writing which act as reaction shots to signify how she is scared. The girl is also breathing heavily to create endurance and suspense. The voice gets too much and she throws the diary across the room. During this time where everything speeds up, the music has gradually increased in tempo.
• There is a close up shot of the diary on the floor where the where the music and the voice suddenly stops, creating a dramatic feeling. There is then finally dialogue from the girl where she says ‘this is where it all began’ which we also see written in the close up of the diary. This is typical of a thriller as it looks on past events in a non-linear way; this builds tension within the audience as they want to know the rest of the storyline.
• The title and the opening credits begin, we chose to put the credits after the beginning of the opening to engage the audience from the start. The credits will be in a handwriting font as it links to the diary.
• The girl begins to write faster, which as she does the whispering/ echoed voice over is faster. There are close ups and extreme close ups of the girl writing which act as reaction shots to signify how she is scared. The girl is also breathing heavily to create endurance and suspense. The voice gets too much and she throws the diary across the room. During this time where everything speeds up, the music has gradually increased in tempo.
• There is a close up shot of the diary on the floor where the where the music and the voice suddenly stops, creating a dramatic feeling. There is then finally dialogue from the girl where she says ‘this is where it all began’ which we also see written in the close up of the diary. This is typical of a thriller as it looks on past events in a non-linear way; this builds tension within the audience as they want to know the rest of the storyline.
• The title and the opening credits begin, we chose to put the credits after the beginning of the opening to engage the audience from the start. The credits will be in a handwriting font as it links to the diary.
Schedule
Typography
The first title is similar to the opening sequence of Psycho, where it shows a decomposed/ broken down effect. The lines in the background can suggest the shot of the knife, which is one of the possible ways that the girl died.
The second title is a typewriter font; this can signify a ‘detective’ theme highlighting that later on in the film the murderer was caught. Furthermore the last image gives the same effect and suggests that it was portrayed in the media. It can also connote escapism, as the girl doesn’t want her handwriting to be traced.
The third font looks ‘flashy’ which refers to the title of the film and the use of photos used in the trailer.
The fourth title looks like blood is coming from it which highlights the theme/plot of murder.
The fifth and sixth font are hand writing fonts which links to the diary. We think that these will be the best fonts to use as they have significance. We are going to use the second handwriting font as it looks almost messy, linking to the girls emotions.
The second title is a typewriter font; this can signify a ‘detective’ theme highlighting that later on in the film the murderer was caught. Furthermore the last image gives the same effect and suggests that it was portrayed in the media. It can also connote escapism, as the girl doesn’t want her handwriting to be traced.
The third font looks ‘flashy’ which refers to the title of the film and the use of photos used in the trailer.
The fourth title looks like blood is coming from it which highlights the theme/plot of murder.
The fifth and sixth font are hand writing fonts which links to the diary. We think that these will be the best fonts to use as they have significance. We are going to use the second handwriting font as it looks almost messy, linking to the girls emotions.
Sound
We looked at different sounds off freesound.org that we thought would be appropriate for our opening. We found that some were more preferable as they fitted better with the thriller/horror genre and linked well to our opening. At the beginning of our opening, we are having slow music up to where there is the first shot of the character. The music will then fade out suggesting isolation. There will then be a quiet few seconds and there will be voiceovers and flashbacks. The voice over is of someone whispering which is meant to be disturbing. The whispering will then increase tempo, once the girl has thrown the diary, there will be silence. Some fast pace, action connoting, music will begin similar to the music in the opening of Psycho.
We liked this one as middle way through the sound becomes higher pitched suggesting tension. It also sounds familiar to a lot of other thriller openings.
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=716
These sounds would fit well at the beginning of our opening where there is a slow pan and zoom. They give a mysterious and eerie effect. The sounds can also suggest isolation as they are echoed.
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=1178 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=6859
We thought that this fitted well with our horror and thriller genre as it is slow adding a foreboding effect and also adds mystery.
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=78515
We thought that this will be a good sound to have whilst there are shots of flashbacks, as it sounds like someone breathing; again signifying death and it fits well with the voiceovers. http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=60571
We liked this one as middle way through the sound becomes higher pitched suggesting tension. It also sounds familiar to a lot of other thriller openings.
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=716
These sounds would fit well at the beginning of our opening where there is a slow pan and zoom. They give a mysterious and eerie effect. The sounds can also suggest isolation as they are echoed.
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=1178 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=6859
We thought that this fitted well with our horror and thriller genre as it is slow adding a foreboding effect and also adds mystery.
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=78515
We thought that this will be a good sound to have whilst there are shots of flashbacks, as it sounds like someone breathing; again signifying death and it fits well with the voiceovers. http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=60571
Costume
We wanted our character to have a disturbed and distressed look. We looked at different female characters within different horrors, which the majority appeared to be wearing a white costume with dark hair and pale skin such as in The Ring and the grudge.
We chose our character to be wearing black as we thought it added to the darkness being portrayed and also looked as though attending a funeral, having connotations of the storyline. We tried to make her face look pale to suggest an anxious look. I, as the other character, who am assumed to be dead, have to appear to be vulnerable; having blonde hair for the victim seems more ideal suggesting the dumb blonde stereotype which highlights that the character is more inferior to the other girl. Furthermore we decided that the character should be wearing a short sleeved top to signify vulnerability, but with normal clothing to suggest that she is a normal character.
Progress
Progress
Monday 8th March- Today, we started our filming after school as all of our planning was complete; we got little done as we still need to arrange the appropriate props for the shots of the ‘disturbed, stalker’ girl, such as the costume and the diary. However, we still managed to get some of the flashbacks done.
Wednesday 10th March- We took pictures, whilst at school, of deserted looking places, which were also appropriate for our opening, such as a tree, looking from below so that it connotes an oppressive atmosphere, and also links with a planned shot in the opening. We will also include these pictures as props when we come to do the filming of the girl.
Thursday 11th March- We spent our double lesson filming some more flashbacks, in which we have finally finished them. After school we got the appropriate props and sorted the costumes out.
Monday 22nd March- We edited our pictures on iPhoto such as changing the contrast to negative and sepia. We printed the ones needed for props on glossy paper and cropped them to the equivalent size of a picture, and also saved the pictures on the Mac to use as quick flashbacks.
Thursday 25th March-We have finished filming today, which involved filming the stair shot with the girl and the diary.
Easter Holidays- I went to school today to begin our editing, which would have given us three weeks to finish, however, the camera ran out of battery, therefore, we will have to start our editing when we continue at school.
Monday 12th April- Today I started the editing, which involved uploading our video and stringing together the clips that we had. I also tried to make the video fluent, by cropping the video size, and putting separate shots together and altering the times.
Tuesday 13th April- We added the pictures in the correct positions and played around with different shots to ensure that we used the best quality ones. We made the flashback shots quicker so that they would give a scarier image. We also ‘‘split’’ shots and repeated some of them, each with a different contrast.
Wednesday 14th April- Today we added temporary sounds off of Freesound onto our preliminary project, so that we could get the best understanding of how it works before coming to our own video.
Thursday 15th April- We completed our sound, adding over three different tracks. We decided not to use our voiceover, as once added onto the Mac, it was not a high quality. Furthermore, it made the storyline more complex. Additionally we finished our credits, tomorrow, to finish off, we just need to proceed with our production company logo, to show our understanding of the conventions involved.
Overall we were delayed with our original schedule, but I think that we have managed our time well, particularly with the filming as we finished when we had agreed.
Monday 8th March- Today, we started our filming after school as all of our planning was complete; we got little done as we still need to arrange the appropriate props for the shots of the ‘disturbed, stalker’ girl, such as the costume and the diary. However, we still managed to get some of the flashbacks done.
Wednesday 10th March- We took pictures, whilst at school, of deserted looking places, which were also appropriate for our opening, such as a tree, looking from below so that it connotes an oppressive atmosphere, and also links with a planned shot in the opening. We will also include these pictures as props when we come to do the filming of the girl.
Thursday 11th March- We spent our double lesson filming some more flashbacks, in which we have finally finished them. After school we got the appropriate props and sorted the costumes out.
Monday 22nd March- We edited our pictures on iPhoto such as changing the contrast to negative and sepia. We printed the ones needed for props on glossy paper and cropped them to the equivalent size of a picture, and also saved the pictures on the Mac to use as quick flashbacks.
Thursday 25th March-We have finished filming today, which involved filming the stair shot with the girl and the diary.
Easter Holidays- I went to school today to begin our editing, which would have given us three weeks to finish, however, the camera ran out of battery, therefore, we will have to start our editing when we continue at school.
Monday 12th April- Today I started the editing, which involved uploading our video and stringing together the clips that we had. I also tried to make the video fluent, by cropping the video size, and putting separate shots together and altering the times.
Tuesday 13th April- We added the pictures in the correct positions and played around with different shots to ensure that we used the best quality ones. We made the flashback shots quicker so that they would give a scarier image. We also ‘‘split’’ shots and repeated some of them, each with a different contrast.
Wednesday 14th April- Today we added temporary sounds off of Freesound onto our preliminary project, so that we could get the best understanding of how it works before coming to our own video.
Thursday 15th April- We completed our sound, adding over three different tracks. We decided not to use our voiceover, as once added onto the Mac, it was not a high quality. Furthermore, it made the storyline more complex. Additionally we finished our credits, tomorrow, to finish off, we just need to proceed with our production company logo, to show our understanding of the conventions involved.
Overall we were delayed with our original schedule, but I think that we have managed our time well, particularly with the filming as we finished when we had agreed.
Storyboard for opening
Preliminary Storyboard
Preliminary Task
The preliminary task included the 180 degree rule, match on action, a shot of a door handle and dialogue; I will use the preliminary task to check the progress that i have made once i have made my film. I will also use it to help me in the production stage, of my opening to a thriller, looking for improvments and getting me use to the equipment.
Thursday 29 April 2010
Tuesday 20 April 2010
Thursday 4 March 2010
Tuesday 9 February 2010
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